Frequently asked
The Silver
Will my silver tarnish?
Yes, and that is normal. Silver reacts with sulphur in the air and develops a warm patina over time. For idols in daily puja, lamp smoke and kumkum accelerate this. Wipe gently with a soft cotton cloth after aarti, store in the anti-tarnish pouch provided when not in use, and restore shine with a proper silver polishing cloth. Never use toothpaste, baking soda or abrasive cleaners. Detailed care instructions ship with every piece.
Is TARAYA silver solid or plated?
Not plated. Every TARAYA idol and vahana is 925 sterling silver, hallmarked and assayed at a BIS-recognised centre, verifiable by HUID in the BIS Care app. Our pieces use 3D hollow construction: silver walls, sealed and finished so the interior cavity is never exposed or visible. This keeps a detailed, full-sized idol or vahana light enough for daily handling and ritual use, without adding filler metals or plating to fake the size. Silver-plated stock, German silver and alpaca alloys never enter the workshop.
Can the idol be used for daily puja and abhishek?
Yes, TARAYA idols are made for daily puja and abhishek. Every piece is genuine 925 silver, permanently sealed shut with silver, no wooden base, no interior cavity ever exposed to liquid. Rinse the murti in clean water after abhishek and dry it at once with a soft cotton cloth. Milk, curd and ghee left standing on the surface hasten darkening, wipe promptly rather than leaving residue overnight. Keep sindoor and kumkum from settling into fine detailing, where they're harder to clean out.
Does TARAYA certify its silver?
Every piece ships with a Certificate of Authenticity stating purity, net weight and piece number. Silver is assayed before dispatch and sold by verified weight, the price locks at order confirmation and the invoice reconciles against actual weight. BIS hallmarking for silver is currently voluntary in India; where a piece is hallmarked, the HUID is printed on the certificate.
Which size suits my home mandir?
Most pieces are offered in four scales: 4, 7, 10 and 12.5 cm. For a shelf mandir, 4 or 7 cm sits in proportion; a dedicated mandir unit carries 10 cm comfortably; 12.5 cm suits a floor mandir or an office reception. If a murti will stand beside others you already own, match heights within about 2 cm so no deity towers over another. Exact dimensions and weights are stated on each product page.
Orders and Delivery
How is my order shipped?
All orders ship fully insured for declared value through our secure logistics partner, with tamper-evident packaging, PIN-based delivery acknowledgement and real-time tracking. Delivery within India typically takes three to five working days. For corporate or bulk consignments we arrange consolidated secure cargo separately. Shipping charges, if any, are shown at checkout before payment.
Do your prices move with the silver rate?
Prices reflect the prevailing silver rate along with the craftsmanship each piece carries, and are revised periodically rather than tick by tick. The price you see locks at order confirmation.
What is your return policy?
If a piece arrives damaged or materially different from what was described, contact us within 48 hours with photographs and we will arrange a replacement or full refund at our cost. Silver idols, auspicious vahanas and frames in undamaged condition may be returned within seven days of delivery; a restocking fee applies to cover assay and refinishing. Bullion items, coins and bars, are non-returnable once dispatched owing to daily price movement. This is disclosed at checkout before purchase.
Can I commission a custom piece?
Yes. We accept commissions for photo frames and corporate gifts. Share the details like approximate size and any reference imagery over WhatsApp or email, and we will return a quote with an estimated timeline, typically eight to twelve weeks depending on complexity. A 50% advance confirms the commission; the balance is invoiced against actual weight before dispatch.
Do you handle wedding and corporate gifting?
Yes. Silver idols and auspicious vahanas are among the most given objects in India for weddings, Diwali and corporate milestones. Every order ships in gift-ready packaging with a GST invoice, and for volume orders we work to your budget and timeline; write to us with quantities and the occasion.